Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-06-21
DEMANDING A DISTRACTION.

Statement Detrimental to Corporation
Counsel DrIscolI's Character Al.
legged TO Have Been Made by Colonel
William HI. Stevenson-The Board of
Finance Decides 1t Has No Jurtsd1c'
tion-A Communication From Col.
Stevenson which the Papers Did NOT
Get-A Probable Suit.
The Derby railroad hearings by the board
of finance have been largely attended by cit
liens. Much interest has been manifested at
every hearing. At one of the late meetings
of the finance committee to hear parties in
terested in propositions to buy the city's in
terest in the Derby Colonel William Il. Ste
venson was quoted in one of the morning
papers as havi ing used words detrimental to
Mr.. DriscolPs character as city official. At
the last meeting of the board Mr.. DriscolA
sent in the following communication to the
board, which he had sent to Col. Stevenson:
Colonel William Fl. Stevenson:
Dear sir-My attention has been called to
the following statement made by you at the
last meeting of the board of finance as report
ed in the Register and other daily papers of
this city: cit is insulting for you, Mr.. Dris-
coll, to cit here pretending to represent the
city. I am not here blindfolded and know
something about this business that does not
appear on the surface I know what 1 am
talking about, Driscoll, and unless you want
me to show you up you had better keep
still"
Please attend the meeting of the board of
finance Tuesday evening of this week and
state fully all you know about the matter re-
ferred to in the statement or retract the
statement before the board as publicly as
you made it. remain,
Yours truly, G. T. DR1scoLL.
Colonel Stevenson did not appear at the
meeting as requested by the counsels letter.
Nothing further was heard of the matter
until Colonel Stevenson was reported as hav-
ing said that he considered Mr.. Driscoll and
his letter beneath his notice. Mr.. Driscon
thereupon yesterday sent the following COM
munication to Mayor York:
To Hon. S. A. York, Mayor and Chairman
of the Board of Finance:
Dear Sir-In compliance with your request
attended the hearing concerning the Derby
railroad before the board of finance on the
evening of the 9th inst. to look after the in
terests of the city. In the course of the hear
ing, and while Colonel William Fl. Stevenson
was speaking, you ruled out and announced
that Judge Harrison as a citizen and any
other citizen present might suggest any ques-
lions to me to ask Colonel Stevenson. Two
lines of inquiry were suggested by Judge
Harrison; first, as to whom Mr.. Starbuck
and second, how Mr.. Starbuck
or the parties he represented proposed to ex-
tend the Derby railroad, as no extension could
be built by an individual and only could be
done by a railroad corporation. I consid-
cred both of these proper inquiries for the
city to make and was asking questions in re-
lation to them when Col. Stevenson seemed
to take exception to my course and to make
personal attack upon me, and is reported
by the reporters who took down his state
ments to have used the following language
''It is insulting for you, Mr.. Driscoll, to sit
here pretending to represent the city. am
not here blindfolded, and I know something
about this business that does not appear on |
Driscoll, and unless you want me to show |
you up you had better keep STILL"
Your honor called for order and ruled /
that all further personal talk should cease, |
and 1 was thus prevented by your honor |
from replying at the time to such portions /
Of Colonel Stevenson's remarks as I heard. |
have called Colonel Stevenson's attention /
TO the language he is reported to have used, |
as will appear by letter sent him, a copy |
IF which is herein enclosed. He has not /
answered this letter nor made any public /
nor contradiction of the language /
he is reported to have used.
Inasmuch as attended the hearing at your i
honor's request and was acting in accordance /
with your ruling in asking the QUESTION: |
by Judge Harrison, and as I was /
by your honor from making any /
.ep1y at the time without defying and disre
yarding your honor's call for order and re-
1uest that all further personal talk should
lease, and Us the statements have been pub
ished in all the daily papers and been allow
ID, I would respectfully request that before
he hearing is closed your honor would re-
uire Col. Stevenson to either prove the
tatements or make public denial OF retrac |
ion of the same. I remain,
Yours respectfully,